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  • Subject: The Light (An AiS Story)
Subject: The Light (An AiS Story)

"So- So this means Im just going to be miserable for the rest of time?!"

"No. This means that you have to live life to the fullest. You have one life, live it well. Make sure you die without regrets. Get a new life, new mate, new family. You, out of all people, don't deserve a terrible fate of misery like that. Having nothing to look forward to is good. It makes sure you want to keep on going. Living is a right, not a privilege."

The following story is a story used inside the group Adventures in Space. The story makes more sense if you had a sense of what the group was about, but since you'll most likely not join the group, heres a quick explanation of the setting.

The year is 2556, years after the Great War(Covenant Human War) ended. The war ended by the two sides agreeing to help defeat a deadly parasite that took form of a 3 mile large titan. Year later, a civil war broke out between the UNSC and the main characters. UNSC has been corrupted, the main characters created a rebellion. They also discovered a new race of aliens called the Bedouins, they're eyeless and mouthless, but they talk through high pitched noises. They joined the rebellion, and speak english but they sound like -blam!- mice. After a whole bunch of fighting against the UNSC, the Covenant was destroyed by the UNSC in one swift strike, and the Sangheili joined the rebellion. The Rebellion became the URG. But exactly after the founding of the URG, the Reapers came, as it was foretold ever since the beginning of the group. This story is a story about a marine in his last moments, on a Reaper infested world..... Harvest. Harvest was rebuilt after the Great War, but it didn't survive for long. Here is an encounter on Harvest.

Legend:
*example*: Inside the asterisks is an action. Sometimes, a thought, or an event happening in the background.

example: Dialogue. If theres a name in front of the dialogue, its another character speaking. Dialogue without a name is the main character, which is Martin Burdict.

***example***: Deep thought, very long action scenes. Like the single asterisks, but it covers a paragraph other than a few sentences*

Enjoy.

  • 04.13.2012 9:11 PM PDT

"So- So this means Im just going to be miserable for the rest of time?!"

"No. This means that you have to live life to the fullest. You have one life, live it well. Make sure you die without regrets. Get a new life, new mate, new family. You, out of all people, don't deserve a terrible fate of misery like that. Having nothing to look forward to is good. It makes sure you want to keep on going. Living is a right, not a privilege."

***I cough into my arm, and I then stare at it, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I eventually make out my arms shape.... but nothing else. I need to see if I coughed up blood, it would tell me if my lungs were damaged. But I guess sight isn't going to tell me anything..... I grimace as I move my left arm up near my right, and I place my left hand next to my right. My right holds onto my left tightly, and I pull my left away while the right keeps its grip. There..... my glove's off. I put my left hand where I coughed, and my arms lights up with pain. Yep... I feel something wet..... but I remembered the explosion. My right arm is burnt up.... Im feeling the blood leaking out of my skin. Suddenly, all my pain starts appearing. Im becoming conscious... I cough again***

*cough cough cough* Ugh.... [-blam!-].......

***My name is Martin Burdict. Lt. Commander Burdict. Im what you call a veteran.... I was here..... on Harvest..... when it all happened. When the Covenant attacked. And now Im here again. When the Reapers attacked. And instead of getting pulled out of a pelican... Im stuck here. Trapped under one of those mobile apartments. Luck got the best of me, but I was fighting near the stacks of Mobile apartments, and one fell. I happened to go through the window, and if Im correct.... The kitchen oven exploded and the fire knocked me out. My squad got squashed by the rest of the apartment...... But I happened to go through the window. Heh..... sometimes I think God keeps me here just to -blam!- with me. The old bastard loves seeing me suffer....... I can't even feel my legs. Or most of the right side of my body. I feel around me, and eventually, I come to the realization that the dining table, made up of steel and glass, landed on my legs, broke both of them. My head is resting on the side of the bed, Im sitting up. I can hear the booms and gunshots from battles afar.... The deep, mechanical groans of the Reapers..... the barking orders of the Sangheili helping us..... the high pitched squeals from Bedouin Fighter Jets..... the screaming of humans. I start to hear more rustle from outside the apartment, I hear voices, voices from all 3 races. I hear a knock on the metal casing of the apartment, they're just looking at it. Little do they know Im in here.***

HEY!!!! *cough* IN HERE!!!!!!

*I hear them talking.... but I can barely make it out. I decided to yell once more*

IN!!!!!!!!! HERE!!!!!!

*They start talking in rushed tones, and they start moving away. I track their voices to the far side of the apartment. Then, I hear a crash, and more moving*

Human Soldier 1: Smells like burnt plastic in here.....

Human Soldier 2: Somebody in here?!

Sangheili Soldier: Probably nothing.... We should get on with our mission.

*I chuckle, and they go silent*

Im..... Im alive.... Im here....... *cough*

*I hear more movement, and I see a bright light, flashed in my face. I move my left hand to my eye, blocking the light*

Human Soldier 1: Holy -blam!-! Someones here! Oh my.... He's covered in blood...

Bedouin Soldier: This isn't training. Blood will be a common sight.

*The human gets closer to me, and kneels beside me. He lowers the light, and I look at him. He's an ODST, with a helmet on. Using his light, I look around me. I have blood splattered across me, and both my feet are ripped off. The right side of my body is completely burnt, including my clothes. Red blood and burnt white skin.... not a pretty sight. The ODST notices the remains of my uniform*

ODST: He's one of us...

You bet your *cough* ass I am....

*I see the sangheili, he looks at me, and huffs*

Sangheili: He's too damaged. He's not worth saving.

ODST: He still deserves to be saved. Maybe he wants to survive.

*I can tell the kid's young. Maybe 20..... 23..... one of those two. Im nearly 46....*

Gah.... shut up.... I don't have much time left... I want you to hear me out....

*The ODST looks at me, then behind him. I see the second human, who's also a ODST*

ODST 2: Dude..... we don't have much time. We need to go.

*The Sangheili nods in agreement, but I can't see the Bedouin. The ODST looks at me*

ODST: Whats your name and rank?

*I smile... Or I try. My face is pretty burnt.... I would take a guess and say unrecognizable.*

Im Lieutenant Commander Burdict.... Martin Burtict.....

*The ODST stares at me. Whats his expression? I can't tell behind his visor. He looks back to the others, they look a bit... unsettled. After a small period of silence, the second ODST sighs*

ODST 2: We'll meet you at the nav-point. Please... make it quick.

*The seconds ODST nods to the Sangheili and Bedouin, and they crawl out of the wreckage. The ODST takes a flashlight out of his bag, and he sets it against the wall, using it as a lantern. I look at him in confusement*

ODST: You wanted me to hear you out.

*I smile, and I cough*

Thanks..... I..... I never wanted to be a soldier. Never, ever did. But my life.... Its been filled with so much hate.... I guess I just did it to soothe my conscious... But it never did.

*I prop myself up a bit, and I flinch with pain as I feel the ground rub up against the nubs of my leg bones, I let out a single sob of pain*

ODST: Sir! ..... You alright?

*I cough, chuckling again*

Yeah yeah...... Well.... 31 years..... 31 years and 6 months ago..... Harvest was attacked by an unknown enemy. I was just 15 at the time.... I was just a farmer.... And my entire family was killed. Father, Mother, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, everything. I was the only Burdict to make it out of Harvest alive.... this set me down a road I now know ultimately brought me to unrest.... Complete, emotional unrest. I joined the military once I was able..... And they put me straight to work. I refused all promotions to become an officer... I wanted to stay on the front lines, kill every single one of those bastards.... I had a great time doing it, I admit. But I saw some pretty sick [-blam!-]..... I've had a total of 17 squads, each of them, all dead. Or...

*I look around me, we can see lots of blood seeping from the window below us*

..... 18.... squads...... All my superiors called me the best of the best. Well..... after one of my tours..... I visited Reach. I found a beautiful girl..... so beautiful..... her name was Shannon..... we loved each other sooo......

*I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to shed a tear. The ODST stays motionless, listening. I open them, a single tear falls down my right cheek, as it falls I feel my cheek light up with pain from the wet contact.*

........... We got married. I was 22. I thought it was the perfect age to get married.... Well, she got pregnant.... and I went on two more tours. I went across the galaxy.... fighting those damn aliens........ I came back, and its only been a few years. She had a beautiful baby boy.... We had contacted each other while I was stationed, we named him after my father, Derek. Derek Burdict...... He was just like me...... Shaggy, dirty blonde hair, dark blue eyes, goofy smile. Just like me. Soldier, if you saw me without these burns.... You'd understand. I don't mean to brag... But my hair is what made me good lookin.

*I chuckle, and the ODST chuckles too. We feel the ground rumble, and we hear a loud mechanical groan. More lasers, and explosions..... Another Reaper has landed*

  • 04.13.2012 9:12 PM PDT

"So- So this means Im just going to be miserable for the rest of time?!"

"No. This means that you have to live life to the fullest. You have one life, live it well. Make sure you die without regrets. Get a new life, new mate, new family. You, out of all people, don't deserve a terrible fate of misery like that. Having nothing to look forward to is good. It makes sure you want to keep on going. Living is a right, not a privilege."

....... *sigh* ........... Well...... This time..... I stayed with her for a while...... We had two, beautiful daughters.... twins..... Halle, and Kailey.... brown hair, brown eyes... Identical. I loved them both so, so much...... I thought I retired. It had been so many years since I went back into the war, my commanders gave me the best of luck, and honorably discharged me. I had just turned 42. Halle and Kailey just turned 16.... Derek turned 20....... Me and Shannon were living the life. Derek hadn't moved out yet because the economy was faulty... We didn't mind. We enjoyed his company. Then....... it all happened so fast.... The Covenant invaded Reach. We were evacuating, quickly, and we were separated. Shannon, Kailey, and Halle were put on another ship, while Derek and I were on ours. We looked out the window the entire time.... Watching their ship... Making sure they made it, but....

*I choke up. I let out a couple sobs, but no... I was determined to finish this*

.... A-.... A plasma torpedo... it flew right their ship... and it crashed into the ocean..... They didn't even send a rescue team..... I... I could've stopped it.... I could've been fighting.... I could've found a way, a way to make sure they made it safely!!! GAH!!!

*I punch the steel table thats pinning down my legs, and it sends a throbbing pain up my shoulder. I weep. I weep like I've never met before. But the ODST just watches. Just.... staring.... I get myself together, and we hear more screaming and gunshots outside the apartment.*

........ We settled ourselves on Taris. Me and Derek.... we fought..... it was endless..... He wanted to fight in the UNSC..... I didn't want him to die too. But he was independent. An adult. He had his own right. He joined the Corps. I was left..... alone.... I never heard from him again, even to this day.... Im afraid... he might be dead.... So I joined. Again. They knew who I was. I got a high position right away. High enough to give me power, but low enough to keep me on the battlefield. I was ruthless. I killed every single one. That old hate..... I think I passed it down to my son.... But knowing he was dead, that the Burdict family line was destroyed tore me apart... My father always wanted grandkids he told me.....Always told me.... Even after Reach... I killed every one I saw. Then Earth was destroyed......... That almost tore me apart. Knowing that so many family lines were ended, just like mine..... But it told me I wasn't alone. I fought on.

*We hear a loud thud, as bullets smash into the side of the apartment. Just fire from other battles*

..... *cough* ...... The Great Wars ended..... then the short lived SHADE Wars.... sadly, I barely participated in that one.... Mostly space battles..... Then peace. I lived alone for an entire year. I never knew what to do. I never bothered to find a girl. A mate. Or even a life. I just stayed in the Corps. But then a civil war broke out. I joined for the most sensible side...... I joined the rebellion. I helped Ergis. I helped on Harvest, mind you, it was rebuilt. I helped on most of the colonies. I ignored all the politics... but the Rebellions military knew me as well, for a lot of people turned. I became a Lt. Commander, just a step down from my UNSC position. They told me where to point my gun, and I did the rest of the work. I believe I did fairly good at my jobs... until now....

*I look around at the dimly lit room, then at the unmoving ODST. I stare at him for a bit*

......You listening?

ODST: Yes sir....

.... Good...

*I cough a couple more times, and I collect myself. I don't have much time...*

I...... Reapers.... They arrived... and from what I heard...... they were the worst threat out there. Once I heard Harvest was under attack.... I couldn't let it happen again..... This, I thought would be my last shot at redemption.... and, or, my last mission. Who knew it would be the second one, eh? *cough* ............................. I didn't avenge anybody........ Not my family..... not Shannon.... not Derek..... Nobody......... Now Im stuck here...... going to die..... but..... at least I told my story... I always wanted to give out my 2 cents before I went out....

*I cough more, and the ODST puts his hand on my shoulder. It stung, but it felt right...*

Im.... Im not going to make it.....I don't have much time......

*I hear the ODST's radio come to life*

[Radio]
ODST 2: Private! Lets go! We need you! Evacs going to be here in 10 minutes!

ODST: ..... Ill be right there....

*I cough more*

I... *cough*..... if you ever happen to see my son.... Derek....

*I reach over to my neck, and I pull off my dog-tags. I hand them to the ODST, who takes it. He squeezes his hand into a fist, around the tags*

Tell.... him...... Tell him his father loved him more than anything else in the world..... and... and..... Im so, so sorry.....

*The ODST breaks his silence*

ODST:...... I will......

*The ODST takes off his helmet, and I stare at him. I smile..... Thank god.....*

*I laugh, but then I cough more.*

Good...... good.....

*This.... this is it. My final moments.... I look up to the ceiling, hanging my head back. I can feel it.... Death.... its creeping in my veins...... so cold...*

..... Heh..... You know.... I always... thought that.... there was going to be a.... a light....

*The last remaining air escapes from my lungs, and life escapes my body.*






*The ODST stand, holding my dog-tags. He puts them in his pocket, and he looks down at me, with a sorrowful look in his eyes*

ODST: ....... I forgive you.

*The radio comes to life again*

[Radio]
ODST 2: Derek! Dammit, WE NEED YOU!!! What the hell are you doing?!?!

*The ODST stares at me one last time, and he puts on his helmet*

ODST:....... Just saying goodbye to my Dad.

*The ODST picks up his flashlight and gun, and he crawls out of the apartment. He starts running to the nav-point*

[The End]

[Edited on 04.13.2012 9:21 PM PDT]

  • 04.13.2012 9:15 PM PDT

Good read ^^

  • 04.14.2012 6:30 AM PDT

"So- So this means Im just going to be miserable for the rest of time?!"

"No. This means that you have to live life to the fullest. You have one life, live it well. Make sure you die without regrets. Get a new life, new mate, new family. You, out of all people, don't deserve a terrible fate of misery like that. Having nothing to look forward to is good. It makes sure you want to keep on going. Living is a right, not a privilege."

Thanks.

  • 04.21.2012 11:08 AM PDT